UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

22/11/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 22/11/2024 18:31

UNESCO Tackles Education Inequality with Sub-Regional Consultation on Open Educational Resources

Millions of people worldwide lack access to inclusive, quality education, a critical issue that UNESCO is actively addressing. In response to this global challenge, the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, in partnership with the UNESCO Havana Regional Office for Culture, convened a Sub-Regional Consultation Meeting on Open Educational Resources (OER) for the Caribbean.

The virtual meeting, gathered representatives from Caribbean Member States, regional organizations, as well as national educational experts. Discussions centred on the implementation of the Recommendation on OER as well as the recently published OER guidelines. Another hot topic concerned the preparations for the upcoming 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress taking place later this year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 17 -21 November.

Dr. Anna Paolini, UNESCO Representative and Director of the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, opened the session by emphasizing the critical importance of OER in fostering inclusive and quality education. She highlighted the challenges posed by recent natural disasters, such as Hurricane Beryl, underscoring the need for resilient and accessible educational resources.

As we prepare for the 3rd World OER Congress, let us reaffirm our commitment to the principles of the Recommendation on Open Educational Resources. This instrument is more than a policy directive, it is a call to action for open access, reuse, adaptation, and redistribution of educational resources, essential for achieving inclusive and equitable quality education worldwide

Dr Anna PaoliniUNESCO Representative & Director UNESCO Office for the Caribbean

Key objectives of the consultation included ensuring that the Caribbean's unique concerns are reflected in the draft outcome document being prepared for the 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress. This process involved connecting regional initiatives and champions, facilitating the exchange of national and regional experiences, and presenting the UNESCO 2019 Recommendation on OER, the newly released implementation guidelinesas well as progress made to date.

Notable contributions came from experts such as Zeynep Varoglu from UNESCO's Communication and Information Sector, Javiera Atenas from the University of Suffolk as well as Monge Tlaka from Neil Butcher & Associated. Participants discussed best practices and innovations in OER. Representatives from the Organization of American States (OAS) as well as the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine (UWI) featured regional projects. National projects from Curaçao, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were also showcased.

The discussions at this consultation are set to make significant contributions to the global development agenda. They will serve to shape the blueprint for digital public goods in education and the draft, aligning with the United Nations Secretary-General's Road Map for Digital Cooperation and the Global Digital Compact. These efforts will culminate at the 3rdUNESCO World OER Congressthat will be organized in Dubai, from 19 to 20 November 2024, under the theme "Digital Public Goods: Open Solutions and AI for Inclusive Access to Knowledge"

UNESCO's initiatives in the Caribbean are a testament to the transformative power of education and digital collaboration, ensuring that every individual can access quality education and contribute to sustainable development.

For more information, on this story:

You may contact Paul Hector, Advisor for Communication and Information [email protected] or visit UNESCO Kingston Office.